Plastic Shelves

Working intuitively with hands-on techniques and a wide range of materials, young Norwegian designer Sigve Knutson creates objects that question contemporary mass-produced design. Af...

This rare shelving system is the 'UMBO' system designed in the early 1970s by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, and was first published in New York magazine on September 25, 1972. This monumental example in a beautiful brown color with a total of 53 elements, detailed below. Constructed from Uniroyal ABS, a product which is durable, nontoxic, and more heat-resistant than wood which was also used to make telephones at that time. Was offered in white, tangerine and brown - this set is in the brown color option. The color was sprayed on in the factory and should not chip off under normal use. The modular system allows to create different types of furniture such as console or coffee tables, bench, bookcase, room dividers, sofa tables, cocktail tables, side or end tables, nightstands or bedside tables, cafe and breakfast or dining tables and more. Produced only for a short time from 1972 to around 1974, due to the ensuing energy crisis of 1973 which marked the end of the era of cheap gasoline and, therefore, plastics causing UMBO to go out of production in 1974 making these examples extremely rare and sought after by collectors. Finding a set this large is much more rare. This wall system became a huge hit for Directional who produced a wide variety of modules and since UMBO was fully modular, it could be arranged and re-arranged at any time into fun and creative solutions and uses for your home. UMBO was even available with a desk, dining table, bed frame or wall shelves module which made it perfect for small apartments such as those in Los Angeles and New York. The particular configuration seen in our photos was put together by our photographer just as an example of how it can be configured but it can be rearranged, expanded or divided to your liking. Kay Leroy Ruggles was a pioneer of inventions and lifelong entrepreneur with a highly successful career winning many awards and holding numerous patents in which he designed and developed over 100 products in a wide range of industries, including automobile, space, furniture, window coverings, amusement park and musical instruments, for example he created the tubular water slide and when Richard Nixon wanted a new bathroom for Air Force One, that job went to Ruggles. Later, Hugh Hefner had custom-designed rooms by Ruggles and so did Ted Kennedy and Disney World. Consider this original UMBO bookcase...

Alberto Rosselli for Saporiti, wall-unit ‘Speedy’, plastic, chrome-plated metal, Italy, 1970s With regard to its form, material use, and color, this wall unit is a true representative of postmodern furniture of the seventies. The bookcase is arranged in three columns, of which the shelves and a container can be arranged freely. Therefore, various configurations can be created. For instance, you can pair...

French midcentury Lucite étagère / bookshelf with accented metal hardware and glass shelves in the style of Maison Jansen.

Iconic Mid-Century Modern "Rocket' display cabinet/vitrine, English, circa 1935. Figured walnut with six graduated tubular-shaped columns on each side representing a rocket launch an...

French vintage étagère (open shelves) in lucite and metal with clear glass shelves. A wonderfully light and open piece, a perfect fit with your modern decor. Very strong constructi...

Jean Prouve/Charlotte Perriand Hanging Cabinet

Zinc slatted work shelves with rubber wheels, wonderful patina and surface.

Zinc slatted work shelves with rubber wheels, wonderful patina and surface.

Four-tier étagère in crackle lacquer with two Lucite shelves and a hidden drawer in the base.

Luxurious Lucite etagere designed by Charles Hollis Jones for the Gucci showroom. Signed Charles Hollis Jones, numbered 23/25 and dated, 1970. Lucite wi...

"bronze" satin brass and Lucite etagere designed by Charles Hollis Jones.